Your World Today

An accident occurred at the intersection of Missouri Highway 32 and Missouri Highway 19 at approximately 7:08 Saturday evening that left a Rolla man with serious injuries and Salem woman with moderate injuries. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol report, 42 year-old Felton Metcalf of Rolla was traveling eastbound on Highway 32 in a 2011 Cadillac CTS and entered the Highway 32/19 intersection while the light was red striking a southbound 2014 Ford Expedition driven by 44 year-old Ronald Terrill of Salem, both vehicles then came to rest in the roadway. An occupant of the Expedition identified as 42 year-old Amy Terrill of Salem suffered moderate injuries while wearing a safety restraint and was transported by Salem EMS to the Salem Memorial Hospital in Salem. Metcalf, who was not wearing a safety device, suffered serious injuries and was transported by Phelps Air Ambulance to the Missouri University Hospital in Columbia. The Cadillac CTS was removed from the scene by American Auto Towing while the Ford Expedition was removed by Whitakers Towing. Metcalf would later be charged with felony resisting, felony DWI, felony driving while revoked, failure to properly affix plates, failure to signal, failure to stop at a stop sign, and for not wearing a seatbelt. These charges are accusations and not evidence of guilt as evidence in support of the charges must be presented before a court to determine guilt or innocence.

The City of Salem is excited to announce the beginning of the Downtown Sidewalk Project, aimed at enhancing accessibility and the overall aesthetic appeal of our community’s core. The work begins this week, and the project will include the demolition, reconstruction, and re-pouring of sidewalks on 4th Street between Iron Street and Washington Street. The project will also include pavers, temporary lighting, and infrastructure improvements along the way. The project will begin Monday on the south side of 4th Street between Highway 19/Main Street and Iron Street. Then on or around November 18th, construction will tentatively start on the south side of 4th Street between Washington Street and Highway 19/Main Street. The construction is expected to shift to the north side of 4th Street between Washington Street and Highway 19/Main Street around December 9th. Only half a block will be under sidewalk construction at any given time to minimize disruption. In March of 2025, the permanent light poles and fixtures will be installed. The City of Salem wants to remind persons that storefronts and parking will not be accessible during the specific section’s construction period on 4th Street. Most businesses will offer access via rear entrances during construction. Public parking is available behind the City Admin Building at 400 N Iron St, and immediately across the street on East 4th Street. Public parking is also available in two city parking lots on 3rd Street along Washington Street and also on the corner of 3rd Street and Highway 19/Main Street. Please continue to patronize the local downtown businesses during this time and through the holiday season. During the construction, it will be necessary to temporarily close off access for the safety of everyone. For more information, please contact the City of Salem at 573-729-4811.

The Dent County Sheriff’s Office has released the following reports for October 15th through the 23rd. On Tuesday, the 15th, Deputies responded to the 1900 block of Highway 119 for a reported trespassing complaint. During the course of the investigation, it was determined that a female subject at the location had an active arrest warrant. The suspect, a 23-year-old Raymondville woman, was arrested and transported to the Dent County Jail. The next day Deputies responded to Salem Memorial Hospital for a reported dog bite. The victim, a 17-year-old Salem juvenile, had been bitten while breaking up a dog fight in the 4000 block of Highway CC.  Medical attention was sought, and the dog was up to date on vaccinations. Then on Saturday, the 19th, Deputies conducted a traffic stop on an ATV at West Highway 32 and Babb Lane. During the course of the stop, the operator was found to have a revoked driving status. A 31-year-old Salem woman was arrested and transported to the Dent County Jail. On Sunday, the 20th, Deputies responded to the 2000 block of Highway W for a property damage complaint. The victim, a 57-year-old Salem man, advised his stepdaughter had thrown an object through his window causing damage.  The suspect, a 22-year-old Salem woman, was trespassed from the property at the victim’s request. Finally on Wednesday, the 23rd, Deputies took a report for property damage that occurred in the 4600 block of N. Highway 19. The unidentified suspect(s) had damaged a parking lot at the location with their vehicle. The investigation is ongoing. If you have any information about any ongoing investigation, please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Office at 573-729-3241.

The Dent County Commissioners met for their regular meeting Thursday morning in the courthouse. In the road report, District One Commissioner Wes Mobray stated brush would be cut on Dent County Roads 4245, 5140, 5190, 6320, 6350 and 6480. He said it is still too dry to grade. District 2 Commissioner Gary Polk was not in attendance, so Mobray gave the report for District 2 as well. He said a crew would be replacing the coolant tank on county truck #124 while another crew would be patching chip and seal county roads 2240 and 2300. He also said a crew member would be relocating field dirt. Presiding Commissioner Gary Larson reported he attended a Tourism Tax Committee meeting this week. Larsons said the committee received two applications for funding of which one was denied, and another proposal was partially funded. He said one request that was tabled from a previous meeting due to a lack of information, was tabled again as the committee still did not have enough information presented to them. Larson also attended the MRPC Annual Awards banquet Thursday night at Osage View in Linn. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley said “no excuse” absentee voting is going on now and the last day to absentee vote will be Monday, November 4th from 8:00 in the morning until 5:00 in the afternoon at the courthouse. Curley indicated her office will be open from 8:00 in the morning until 12:00 noon on Saturday, November 2nd for absentee voting. Curley said since Tuesday, they have been averaging about 150 people per day for absentee voting and have had almost 700 people vote absentee. She said the county is on pace to set a new record for absentee voting. If you need to make changes to your voter registration such as a name or address change, please do that as soon as possible so that it will be completed before you go to vote. The next meeting will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.

The Salem R-80 School Board held their regular meeting on Wednesday evening at 5:30. The Board approved the amended agenda, and the consent agenda then read a thank you note received from Mrs Cheatham. During Student Recognitions, students from Salem High School gave a presentation about Next to Rise, a youth-led anti-smoking and vaping coalition. Assistant Superintendent Dan Copeland then presented information on last term’s MAP and EOC scores, which have shown a strong improvement in all areas from the previous year. He stated that they will continue to prioritize increasing performance levels to above the state’s average. Superintendent Nathan Wills then gave his report, in which he stated the construction of the FEMA storm shelter is about one month ahead of schedule, and will hopefully be completed by Christmastime. Roof repairs throughout the district are nearly complete, and the dates to file for School Board seats will be December 10th – 31st. Mr. Copeland updated the Board on the George & Liz Gruendel Enrichment Grant winners, and Dr. Wills also gave an update on Senate Bill 727. SCA prices will be going up as soon as basketball season starts. The new prices will be $4 for adults and $2 for children. The Board then heard reports from the administrators. William Lynch Principal, Herman Blau would like to invite the public to the school’s Veterans Day Assembly at City Hall on the morning of November 11. Branden Piatt, the Upper Elementary Principal, stated they will be having a family night on October 29, and the Middle School Principal, Rachel Green stated they are working on student-led announcements and looking forward to their first dance in December, and Red Ribbon spirit week, starting Monday. High School Principal, Jody Heavin stated they are continuing to work on their early identification system, to help and support students that need academic and emotional assistance. The High School was recently awarded a $2,500 Feminine Hygiene Grant, and for a current list of events, Rachel encouraged citizens to check the calendar on the R-80 School’s app. During New Business, the Board selected Kaison Wilmont as the Belcher Scholarship nominee. The Board set the date for graduation in the spring. They voted to approve declaring English books as surplus property, and updating the High School Tardy Policy. After discussing resignations, retirements and hires, the meeting went into closed session.

This Saturday, October 26th from 2:00 until 8:00, it will be “Halloween” in the park at Echo Bluff State Park. Pick up a bat scavenger hunt sheet from the Betty Lea Lodge or the check station for a prize when completed. For those staying at the park, camper and cabin decorating contest forms can be picked up from the front desk of the lodge or at the check station. Prizes will be awarded for the top three campsites and top three cabin doors. Everyone is welcome to join in a spooky and crazy animal changing hike at 2:00. Meet at the “Steps to Nowhere” for this transforming hike. Trick-or-treating will begin at 5:00 in the afternoon, departing from the Union Hill Carpenter Cemetery, just south of the campground. At the end of the night, guests will share stories, myths, legends, folktales and old wives’ tales around a campfire across from the check station. Are they fact or fiction? You be the judge! Echo Bluff State Park is located at 35244 Echo Bluff Drive north of Eminence.